Visiting Seattle, Chicago - recommendations?

Won't let me edit my post for some reason. Forgot to add - record shops!!

I was in Chicago last year.
Buddy Guy's Legends bar is a must (get a table at the front and order the crawfish), as is The Green Mill. You will be recommended to go to Giordano's Pizza. Unless you want a deep open pie filled with minced tomatoes and about 2lb's of cheese dropped in it, I'd give it a miss. I felt ill for 24 hours after a quarter of one. If you like Architecture (as I do), a trip out to Oak Park to see all the Frank Lloyd Wright houses, and his house and studio is a good trip for a morning, and there is a diner nearly opposite his studio where they do a good breakfast.
I found Chicago to be one of those places that you find you enjoyed more than you realised at the time.
Not been to Seattle yet.

Was there a few years ago (Chicago)

You could visit the House of Blues (and even stay at the attached hotel (Loewes House of blues hotel) Probably the funkiest hotel I've visited.

Could dine right in that vacinity by visiting Smith & Wolenski Steak house. This is a pucker place and I'm sure your hosts would be impressed

Have fun.

BLUES at 2519 N.Halstead is a great little blues bar - been there a couple of times on different occasions and always enjoyed it. It's popular, and small-ish, so get there early and get a seat close to the stage.

Very intimate little bar with great acts...

The view from the top of the Sears tower is pretty amazing if you like that sort of thing.

phil

I highly recommend a restaurant called Wild Ginger in downtown Seattle. I would suggest reservations. Food would be called pan Asian I think, but I would say that it's one of those places to try a little of everthing. Service is outstanding. From there I'm sure the waiter can direct you to the music scene.

tw

Thanks for the tips - Oak Park looks a great idea and I'll have a look for Wild Ginger and the Blues bars.

Well, if you miss Giordano's (Rasher, I probably recommended it to you -- sorry it didn't agree with you!) then at least get a "real" Chicago hot dog. You'll know one when you see it.
Chicago is an amazing place for sure. The sheer scale of it, the vibrant economy, politics, etc. are nearly overwhelming. I hope you get a good view of it from the airplane coming in.
Seattle is equally amazing, but very different than Chicago.
If you go up the Sears Tower or the Hancock Bldg. in Chicago then you'll have to go up the Space Needle in Seattle too.
PLENTY of fine dining in Seattle.
The Pike Street Fish Market is quite interesting too.
And the natural areas around Seattle are nothing short of breathtaking.
Have a great time!
David

If your into vinly records, try Bop Street Records in Ballard section of Seattle...Big Brother

quote:

Originally posted by NaimDropper:
Well, if you miss Giordano's (Rasher, I probably recommended it to you -- sorry it didn't agree with you!)

You did, but I wouldn't have missed it David. Even if I didn't like it, I had to try it because you put it on my list and I would have felt I missed out otherwise. For that reason, I suppose I'm wrong in saying give it a miss, because it is something Chicago is known for, and therefore should be tried once. I saw two huge guys in there and they were eating one each

Wow, they had to be some hungry guys.
I've NEVER been able to get through more than 2 pieces of that pie. And I'm a pretty hearty eater!
It is one of my favorite pizzas. But know that I won't take tuna, corn or shrimp on my pizza!
David

Back now, and thanks again for the tips. In addition to Seattle we had a buzz round the Pacific North West, Mount Rainier etc - very beautiful. Let's hope that volcano doesn't blow anytime soon.

Chicago indeed was big & vibrant but in parts quite walkable and user-friendly (except trying to cross the road by the lake!). Legends on the first night hosted the superb Jimmy Burns band, and provided delicious jambalaya and smothered catfish (smothered, it has to be said, in catfish sauce). Great food, great architecture, and the Art Institute was the big must-see - we spent 4 hours there but could have spent 4 days. I noticed that the Chicago Symphony shop on S Michigan Ave was home to at least 3 pairs of B&W 805S's in rosewood!

Seattle surprisingly downbeat by comparison and too much choice in music to see anything, but great vinyl shops - Underdawg Records in Queen Anne for anyone who's interested. And corrffee of course, but personally I can live without Seattle latte-speak... The Athenian in the Pike place market had some excellent crab & shrimp though.

Got to see Chicago (the band!) near Seattle, open-air show with 4000 crowd - and as they were dead tight and did all the early stuff, was well worth it.

Also - every single American I spoke to on the trip was unfailingly polite, friendly, interesting and interested. Mind you, not many of them would vote for Bush....

A second for Blues on North Halstead. Across the road is The Kingston Mines, which is often recommended. It’s good but can be a bit trendy. I know it sounds unlikely for a blues club but it can be full of expense account types who aren’t there for the music.
Vortex is a good club if you like deep house.
Babalu, 720, Volkan and Mambo are good if you like Salsa, merengue, cumbia, son, mariachi, etc. They can be quite intimidating though if you don’t speak Spanish.
If you go to Buddy Guy’s I wouldn’t recommend going around on foot. They can be a bit scary – I was working the door of a bar up the road with a friend. I nipped inside for a wee and while I was gone he was shot in a drive by. The sick thing is he was just an innocent bystander.
I haven’t been to Chicago for several years so my suggestions may be a bit out of date.

Seattle - I'll second Wild Ginger. I'd also recommend the beer at Big Time Brewing Co. & Elysian Brewing, both are brewpubs. Cheers